Synthesis, characterization, biodegradability and surfactant properties of bio-sourced lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) oligoesters

Fully bio-sourced lauroyl oligoester surfactants, based on poly(glycerol-succinate) as polar head group with controllable sizes and topologies were prepared without solvent nor catalyst using A(2) + B'B-2 + AR and A(2) + B'B-2 + B'BR synthesis approaches. The alkyl chain was either derived from lauric acid or from glycerol alpha-monolaurate. The oligoester surfactants were characterized by quantitative C-13 NMR, acid values and size exclusion chromatography. Their surface activity, foamability, foam stability, wetting power, solubilization properties and biodegradability were investigated proving their potential use in a wide set of applications in replacement of petrochemical surfactants. This study underlines the relative impacts of the succinic acid/glycerol monomer ratios and of the strategies of synthesis on the physico-chemical behaviour, on the biodegradability and on the stability of the lauroyl poly(glycerol-succinate) surfactants. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.